How ABA May Support Managing Message Notifications

Sort alerts by purpose

Group messages into urgent safety, time-sensitive commitments, account security, personal communication, reminders, updates, promotions, and optional activity. Define who labels each category and which conditions truly require action.

Choose accessible signals

Compare sound, vibration, light, badge, lock-screen text, wearable cue, voice, or a supporter alert. Protect message previews on shared screens. Let the person choose quiet periods and which people or systems may bypass them when appropriate.

Create a response menu

The person can open, defer, dismiss, mute, reply, ask for help, verify independently, or report the alert. Add a backup for a dead battery, disconnected device, inaccessible app, or alert overload.

Keep security and communication visible

CISA's Secure Our World recommends recognizing phishing, using strong passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, and updating software. ASHA supports AAC access. The Ethics Code addresses privacy and client involvement.

A practical example

Noah reviews eight notification settings. Seven have a clear owner, purpose, accessible signal, and response rule. Noah keeps four, changes two, and disables one. The unlabeled security alert remains open for the account owner.

Questions families can use

Which alerts matter? Who defines urgency? Is the signal accessible and private? Can the person defer or mute it? Which alerts require independent verification? What backup covers device failure?